Christmas Eve Birds

Walked to the Coldrum Stones as dusk was setting. There was a massive flock of mixed crows in and above the fields opposite. Mainly jackdaws, there were also crows and a I could detect a few rooks from their calls. Although there is a large rookery just a couple of miles away, this is the first time I have seen these birds around the village.
What does surprise me about these birds is their persistence in taking the opportunity to feed until the last possible moment. Even with the light rapidly fading, there remained some birds upon the stubble.

Singing Greenfinches

Dawn broke clear and bright this morning, this first day of the rising sun. To my astonishment, from the garden, I could hear a cock greenfinch in full throated song announcing his rights to hold that territory. I would not normally expect to hear this song for at least a couple of months, so this was a truly early pleasant surprise.
Lots of thrushes feeding on various berries, including fieldfare, redwing and mistle thrush.

Farming Practises and Winter Birds

Last winter the fields around the house had been planted with spring wheat. Very few birds could be seen feeding on these fields. In contrast, with the fields left as stubble, there are now always birds of some sort to be seen upon them. This morning I came across a small mixed flock with yellow hammer, greenfinches, chaffinches and redwings. In addition I have frequently seen a covey of french partridge and crows and magpies are often seen. Skylarks are also still in the area,somehting I did not witness at all last winter.
I also happened upon a flock of siskins in a garden tree, a first for this area.

Berthelot's Pipit and Wild Canaries

Spent much of Thursday on the peninsular at the eastern tip of Madeira (Sao Laurenco). The ridge was full of flowers and finally saw a Berthelot's pipit. A very obliging individual picking off small insects within just a few feet of the path.
Having seen and heard lots of canaries during the week, I was not at first at all surprised to hear them singing whilst walking along, even though there are few trees on the peninsula. What I did not expect was to see a flock of several hundred of the birds. They were quite a sight as they rose and swirled from one patch of grassland to another. Although there was a covering of a rape like flower, these were not seeding and so what the canaries were feeding upon remains a mystery. Great to see them in such numbers.

Pilot Whales and Dolphins off Madeira

Went on a catamaran yesterday and following an hour´s sail towards the Desertas Islands, eventually saw a pod of six female pilot whales. This was followed by the sighting from a greater distance of a larger male of the species. On the way back to port (Funchal) we then saw some more pilot whales accompanied by some dolphins. Sitting at the prow of the catamaran, I was able to watch the dolphins swimming below the surface just a few feet from me.
Great experience!

Tame Madeiran Goldfinches

On the island of Madeira again enjoying the winter sunshine. >Observed a flock of about twelve goldfinches feeding on the seeds of a tree in the hotel grounds. These birds were approachable to within just a few feet; quite indifferent to my presence. The next day saw a small flock of canaries feeding on the seeds that had fallen to the ground following the attention of the goldfinches.

Redwings

Last winter, the area around the house was full of fieldfares but no redwings seemed to settle here although numbers of them were seen and heard over-flying. This morning I counted twenty five individuals in the field at the back of the house. There are still plenty of berries on the hawthorn hedge, but these birds were taking advantage of the mild weather to forage for insects on the grass.
Other birds that appear to be around in much greater nu,bers this winter include jays and nuthatches. These of course, are not winter migrants and so their increased numbers may be due to the good summer we experienced.

Where are all the Birds?

Despite having an extended period of hard frosts, there have been few birds coming into the garden. I have six bird feeders well stocked with suitable food and positioned where I think there is sufficient cover for the birds to feel secure, yet I am only seeing the odd blue or great tit appearing. There are other birds around, such as robin, wren, hedge accentor, collared dove, magpie, pheasant, but these are not the birds you will generally get on the feeders.
I can only conjecture that the mild autumn has meant that there are still sufficient supplies of insects to keep many birds within the hedgerows and woodlands without a need to venture into the garden. I had hoped to entice woodpeckers and nuthatches, etc, but so far, I have only seen them fly over.